Displaced tenants waiting for change after fire tears through their home

Assemblymember Kenny Burgos’ office has been providing aid to the families looking for new and alternative housing options during this time.

Valerie Ryan and Adolfo Carrion

Feb 9, 2024, 10:22 PM

Updated 168 days ago

Share:

A fire ripped through a Soundview apartment just over two weeks ago, injuring six and displacing dozens. Now, those who were moved from their homes are still searching for answers.
A vacate order and a chain lock sits at the front of 1053 Boynton Ave., and Michael Radcliff and his family have been living with his elderly mother in a Chinatown hotel since Jan. 23.
“We lost a lot. We lost a lot, but we are still living,” said Radcliff.
Residents tell News 12 that they are stuck with more and more questions about what’s next for when they’ll be able to return home – and not many answers.
“We don’t even know how long the building’s going to take, they haven’t let us know,” said Waleska Valasquez, daughter of one of the residents. “How are we supposed to take the next steps to figure out what am I going to do for my mom?”
Tenants say that management did briefly let them into the building to gather belongings, but have not provided aid otherwise.
Radcliff says he’s been paying out of pocket to stay at the Chinatown Hotel, while Valasquez says she’s been working around the clock to find her mother new housing.
Assemblymember Kenny Burgos’ office has been providing aid to the families looking for new and alternative housing options during this time.


More from News 12